St. Mary's O'Neal streaking toward NCAA Division II record

Updated 1:30 am, Thursday, February 28, 2013

St. Mary's ace Carl O'Neal has tied an NCAA Division II record with 21 straight wins. The Clark High School graduate goes for the record Friday at St. Edward's.

St. Mary's ace Carl O'Neal has tied an NCAA Division II record with 21 straight wins. The Clark High School graduate goes for the record Friday at St. Edward's.

Photo: Billy Calzada / San Antonio Express-News

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St. Mary’s Carl O’Neal pitched a one-hitter to beat Oklahoma Panhandle State 1-0. O’Neal won his 21st straight game to tie the Division II mark, according to NCAA records.

St. Mary’s Carl O’Neal pitched a one-hitter to beat Oklahoma Panhandle State 1-0. O’Neal won his 21st straight game to tie the Division II mark, according to NCAA records.

Photo: Billy Calzada, Express-News

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St. Mary’s Carl O’Neal pitched a one-hitter to beat Oklahoma Panhandle State 1-0. O’Neal won his 21st straight game to tie the Division II mark, according to NCAA records. O'Neal, left, is congratulated by graduate assistant coach Skye Severns after winning. less

St. Mary’s Carl O’Neal pitched a one-hitter to beat Oklahoma Panhandle State 1-0. O’Neal won his 21st straight game to tie the Division II mark, according to NCAA records. O'Neal, left, is congratulated ... more

Photo: Billy Calzada, Express-News

Image 4 of 13

St. Mary’s Carl O’Neal pitched a one-hitter to beat Oklahoma Panhandle State 1-0. O’Neal won his 21st straight game to tie the Division II mark, according to NCAA records. O'Neal, right, speaks with battery mate Scott Slusher after the game. less

St. Mary’s Carl O’Neal pitched a one-hitter to beat Oklahoma Panhandle State 1-0. O’Neal won his 21st straight game to tie the Division II mark, according to NCAA records. O'Neal, right, speaks with ... more

Photo: Billy Calzada, Express-News

Image 5 of 13

St. Mary’s Carl O’Neal pitched a one-hitter to beat Oklahoma Panhandle State 1-0. O’Neal won his 21st straight game to tie the Division II mark, according to NCAA records.

St. Mary’s Carl O’Neal pitched a one-hitter to beat Oklahoma Panhandle State 1-0. O’Neal won his 21st straight game to tie the Division II mark, according to NCAA records.

Photo: Billy Calzada, Express-News

Image 6 of 13

St. Mary’s Carl O’Neal pitched a one-hitter to beat Oklahoma Panhandle State 1-0. O’Neal won his 21st straight game to tie the Division II mark, according to NCAA records. O'Neal greets first-baseman Derek Moczygemba after a third out. less

St. Mary’s Carl O’Neal pitched a one-hitter to beat Oklahoma Panhandle State 1-0. O’Neal won his 21st straight game to tie the Division II mark, according to NCAA records. O'Neal greets first-baseman ... more

Photo: Billy Calzada, Express-News

Image 7 of 13

St. Mary’s Carl O’Neal pitched a one-hitter to beat Oklahoma Panhandle State 1-0. O’Neal won his 21st straight game to tie the Division II mark, according to NCAA records. O'Neal alerts his catcher about a pop fly foul ball. less

St. Mary’s Carl O’Neal pitched a one-hitter to beat Oklahoma Panhandle State 1-0. O’Neal won his 21st straight game to tie the Division II mark, according to NCAA records. O'Neal alerts his catcher about ... more

Photo: Billy Calzada, Express-News

Image 8 of 13

St. Mary’s Carl O’Neal pitched a one-hitter to beat Oklahoma Panhandle State 1-0. O’Neal won his 21st straight game to tie the Division II mark, according to NCAA records. O'Neal warms up before the game. less

St. Mary’s Carl O’Neal pitched a one-hitter to beat Oklahoma Panhandle State 1-0. O’Neal won his 21st straight game to tie the Division II mark, according to NCAA records. O'Neal warms up before the ... more

Photo: Billy Calzada, Express-News

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St. Mary’s Carl O’Neal pitched a one-hitter to beat Oklahoma Panhandle State 1-0. O’Neal won his 21st straight game to tie the Division II mark, according to NCAA records. The St. Mary's baseball team says a prayer before the game. less

St. Mary’s Carl O’Neal pitched a one-hitter to beat Oklahoma Panhandle State 1-0. O’Neal won his 21st straight game to tie the Division II mark, according to NCAA records. The St. Mary's baseball team ... more

Photo: Billy Calzada, Express-News

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St. Mary’s Carl O’Neal pitched a one-hitter to beat Oklahoma Panhandle State 1-0. O’Neal won his 21st straight game to tie the Division II mark, according to NCAA records. O'Neal chases down a batted ball. less

St. Mary’s Carl O’Neal pitched a one-hitter to beat Oklahoma Panhandle State 1-0. O’Neal won his 21st straight game to tie the Division II mark, according to NCAA records. O'Neal chases down a batted ... more

Photo: Billy Calzada, Express-News

Image 11 of 13

St. Mary’s Carl O’Neal pitched a one-hitter to beat Oklahoma Panhandle State 1-0. O’Neal won his 21st straight game to tie the Division II mark, according to NCAA records.

St. Mary’s Carl O’Neal pitched a one-hitter to beat Oklahoma Panhandle State 1-0. O’Neal won his 21st straight game to tie the Division II mark, according to NCAA records.

Photo: Billy Calzada, Express-News

Image 12 of 13

St. Mary’s Carl O’Neal pitched a one-hitter to beat Oklahoma Panhandle State 1-0. O’Neal won his 21st straight game to tie the Division II mark, according to NCAA records. O'Neal, standing in the middle, takes his time between warmup pitches before the game. less

St. Mary’s Carl O’Neal pitched a one-hitter to beat Oklahoma Panhandle State 1-0. O’Neal won his 21st straight game to tie the Division II mark, according to NCAA records. O'Neal, standing in the middle, ... more

Photo: Billy Calzada, Express-News

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St. Mary's O'Neal streaking toward NCAA Division II record

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St. Mary's pitcher Carl O'Neal can point to several reasons he tied the NCAA Division II record for most consecutive wins.

During that 21-game winning streak, the senior from Clark has stayed healthy and has been consistent with all of his pitches. The offensive and defensive support hasn't gone unnoticed, and the education received from pitching coach Chris Ermis has proved valuable.

The main thing that pushes the right-hander over the top is a love for winning.

“It always feels so good to win that I don't want to allow myself an opportunity to lose,” O'Neal said. “I hate losing. Last year I had a couple games where I had no decisions. It felt terrible. I try as hard as I can not to have that feeling.”

O'Neal has been on his game in the early going, registering a 4-0 record with a 0.34 ERA, 22 strikeouts and five walks in 26⅔ innings. The best outing was the record-tying performance as the right-hander tossed a one-hitter in the Rattlers' 1-0 seven-inning victory over Oklahoma Panhandle State.

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O'Neal can eclipse the record with a win against Heartland Conference opponent St. Edward's on Friday in Austin.

Although the most recent win stands out, there are 30 overall with four losses, the last coming as a sophomore.

The winning began as a freshman. As a part-time starter, he was 5-1. A 7-3 sophomore campaign followed, but the breakthrough came last season as O'Neal posted a 14-0 mark and received numerous awards, including Daktronics National Pitcher of the Year and All-America honors, while helping St. Mary's to the Division II College World Series.

“Last year was so surreal,” O'Neal said. “Getting to the World Series was awesome. Winning the regional was a big deal because we had come up short the previous two times.

“Everything worked. When I struggled on the mound my teammates picked me up and scored runs.”

That success from a year ago has set the tone for his final season.

“I took a lot of time in the fall to get stronger,” O'Neal said. “I don't see myself being a better pitcher. But something is better.

“This season I am going as hard as I can with every pitch. There's no gimme pitches. Last year, it seems like I was trying to place my pitches and I had a tons of walks. I'm pitching my game.

“I always get help from (Ermis). He knows about pitching. He calls my pitches, and if I shake him off I usually give up a hit.”

O'Neal's grooming has been an ongoing project. He came to St. Mary's with a sharp fastball and a decent curve, slider and change-up. Working with Ermis, he has improved on all four pitches.

“Carl has always had that competitive nature,” Ermis said. “He is a perfectionist. He always works to get better every year, and that is what he has done.”